26-ish books in 2020

[drspouse]

A thread for those too busy or otherwise not able to aim for 50 books in a year!
I'm aiming for 12 from my shelves and 12 from a reading challenge

thebrokenspinedotnet.wordpress.com/2019/12/14/reading-classic-books-challenge/

There are loads of reading challenges here too

www.girlxoxo.com/the-master-list-of-2020-reading-challenges/

We are very laid back here, join any time, I imagine this thread will be open till Dec as it doesn't move too fast!

Oh, I like Ibsen, though I’ve only seen his work performed and not read it. It’s bleak though isn’t it.

Love Ibsen too

Oh yes, bleak and scary. And frankly so many women like that now!

35. Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind - Yuval Noah Harari
Bloody loved this. Might be my book of the year. It's pitched just right. It's intelligent enough that you feel like you're really covering the subject in some detail, yet the language is accessible enough that you never feel out of your depth.
The story of humanity, all 70,000 years of it, in a shade over 400 pages. From humans as small tribes of Hunter gatherers to today's huge cities and the potential future for humanity to stretch beyond evolution. Fascinating. Highly recommended.

34 The Ten Loves of Mr Nishino by Hiromi Kawakami

Another novel/series of interlinked short stories, my third book structured like this this year (Girl, Woman, Other and Olive Kitteridge being the other two) and this is possibly my favourite. Each story is written from the viewpoint of one of the ten loves from a relationship at school to his last relationship but they aren't written in chronological order so I ended up going back and forward to try and work out the order of the loves. Some loves appear in more than one story, some in only one. Nishino is always slightly out of reach, they each have a different view of him and the relationships vary in length and importance (to the women and to Nishino). It was wonderful and touching and so simply but beautifully written. Going to read more by Hiromi Kawakami.

32. Hold Your Breath by B P Walter

I liked this. A bit strange and exorcismy but kept me guessing for the most part. Quite well written. I'd like to read others by this author. I didn't realise until I'd finished that the author is male. The book is told from a girl/woman's perspective and often if a male writes that it can feel clunky but this didn't.
Worth a read.

22. A Gentleman in Moscow Amor Towles. I adored every single word, sentence, paragraph and chapter in this book. It was perfect. I sobbed, I laughed, I smiled inanely to myself. An aristocrat is sentenced to house arrest in a luxury hotel in the Soviet Union. I loved all the little references to literature, philosophy, theology and so much more. I really enjoyed the relationships which seemed so clear even though they weren’t in your face.

This is my read of the year. 5 stars and it’s going in my literature journal (yes I am a nerd) along with about 12 others.

I’m pretty pleased I’ve managed this many, I set my target at 12.

Currently reading 1984 for book club purposes and now scrolling my Kindle for something a bit light and easy.

@MercedesDeMonteChristo tell me more about your book journal!

Loved a gentleman in Moscow too, read it last year for bookclub

Oh, I’ve put probably oversold it. It’s a book that has pages like ‘books that make you cry’, ‘favourite all time books’ etc. I’m very discerning about what makes it into the book.

I also keep a notebook with every book I’ve read since 2013 with a little review (tiny) - once I finish 1984 it will be 200 and the book is finished so have a lovely new Austen inspired one.

I also log on Goodreads for the geeky data.

I may be a tad obsessed with the logging of my books.

I love that you do that! The only logging I’ve ever done is a list since 2017, I do want to make the effort to start writing a little review for myself even if it’s in good reads!

I often finish a book late in bed so the best I can do on GR is lignite it with a star rating.

I can’t wait for the end of year round up that tells you how many pages you have read, average numbers etc.

34, Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith. I liked this one much more than no 2, I didn't guess the ending either.
35 Paper Wife by Laila Ibrahim, I really loved this. A culture and a time I had no idea about, I felt the main character was really well written. Also my last "book I own" so that's my two 12 book challenges done.

Impressed you manage reviews. I have a little notebook where I've recorded every book I've read since 1996. Which is why I wanted to do this challenge because I know I read about 26 books a year until 2 things happened: DS was born (DC3, the older two didn't affect my reading at all!) and most fatally getting a smart phone. Keep meaning to do some stats on it, e.g. a quick glance tells me in my 20s I read predominantly male authors with the odd woman, now it's predominantly female authors with the odd man (last man I read was Philip Pullman last December).

You are all inspiring me to record what I've read better! I'm constantly looking a books in the library and second hand bookshops (pre-Covid) and can't remember if I've read them or not! So I would definitely benefit from some kind of system.

35. What Remains - Tim Weaver
This is about the fifth book in a series where the main character looks for missing people. This was good, lots of twists and some really creepy bits featuring a penny arcade and a hall of mirrors. You have to have read the previous books though, otherwise it would make no sense.

Damn. That should be 36. not 35.

Aha! I have found book 36 which is The Fourth Bear by Jasper Fforde, and that means I've read 13 books I own.

23. The Saturday Morning Park Run, Jules Wake.

It was just what I needed after A Gentleman in Moscow. Nicely written rom com, slightly more engaging chick lit. The romance was one I enjoyed but I really enjoyed the sense of family and community that it explored. And, I’m going to go back to my local Park Run when it starts up again. I’ll read more of her work if it comes up on my BookBub emails.

Still on 1984. I think we have another week of reading. Just need to work out what to read alongside. Not sure I fancy anything too taxing or wonderful.

I can never see Jasper Fforde’s name without seeing Jasper Carrot in my head.

I've only ever read one Jasper Fforde and I really enjoyed it. Just haven't got round to buying any others. I need to start making more list!

37. The Key - Simon Toyne
The second part of a trilogy that is one of those history/religion/conspiracy/post-DaVinci code type things. Very good. Lots of monks and Islamic insurgents and bookish professors who also happen to be ex special forces soldiers. Totally unbelievable but fun.

35 Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead by Olga Tokarczuk. Translated by Antonia Lloyd-Jones

Murder mystery narrated by an eccentric woman who lives high on the plateau near the polish-czech border. Excellent.

31. Too Much Information - Dave Gorman. I love DG. This wasn't his best but I still enjoyed it

32. The Western Wind - Samantha Harvey. I thought this had been recommended on here but I've done a search and can't find it mentioned, so not sure where I read about it. Unfortunately I didn't enjoy it that much although the premise (Medieval murder mystery) floated my boat. It wasn't really a Medieval murder mystery and I was underwhelmed by its structure (told backwards) and lack of plot. Some of the writing was beautiful but I didn't really get what it was trying to do/say.

33. The Man Who Didn't Call - Rosie Walsh. Nice, light, easy read.

24: A Man Called Ove, Frederik Backman

I liked this. The last quarter I really found quite moving but I do like a bit of sentimentality. I’m always behind the curve with books so I know most will have read this year’s ago, but in case you haven’t it’s about a grumpy old man and his neighbours. I particularly liked the overuse of names, not sure why but I just really liked it.

My target was 12 this year so I’m delighted to have doubled it.

Not sure what to go for next yet. I’m on the home straight with 1984 and we are scheduled to finish next weekend.

@MercedesDeMonteChristo I LOVE a man called Ove, the film is a great adaptation as well

I’ve had to put down The Long Song by Andrea Levy as I suddenly got booked on 2 books and all my reading time is taken up with them at the moment. One very boring on ADHD and the other I’m 1/3 through (600 pages 🙄) but it’s pretty good so far so at least that’s something

Also I don’t know Jasper Fford, what’s he like?

36 Kitchen by Banana Yoshimoto.

Two short stories/novellas meditating on grief. Beautiful.